Unions rally against China free trade deal

Traffic outside the West Australian parliament was brought to a standstill as unions held a rally against the free trade deal with China, saying it will be bad for local jobs and exploit foreign workers.

However, federal Trade and Investment Minister Andrew Robb described the protest as "a racist misinformation campaign being led by the disgraced CFMEU".

The CFMEU, UnionsWA and Electrical Trades Union were joined by Perth Labor MP Alannah MacTiernan at Solidarity Park opposite the WA parliament for a midday protest on Tuesday.

The CFMEU says Chinese companies will be able to bring in an entire overseas workforce for projects worth more $150 million in which they have a minimum 15 per cent stake.

Ms MacTiernan says there'll be no market testing to see if sufficient local labour is available.

"It says it very clearly in the agreement," she told the crowd.

"So what do we hear from minister Andrew Robb, what do we hear from the prime minister? `Oh, there's guidelines and there's policies. It will never happen'.

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"This is not about xenophobia. This is about being honest about this agreement and standing up for Australian jobs."

Christy Cain, the WA secretary of the Australian Maritime Union, pounced on news that Australian crewman on board a Chinese-owned survey vessel fell ill with legionnaires' disease off the Broome coast on the weekend.

He says the union's intervention proved it cared about both local and foreign workers.

"Three of the Australian workers are in hospital, one's in an induced coma," Mr Cain said.

"We didn't just look after the Australians, we looked after the Chinese crew as well. That isn't racist."

Mr Robb said the protest was part of a campaign to divert attention from the royal commission into unions.

"It's a diversion from the almost daily reports of rorts, rip offs and thuggery from an organisation that has zero credibility," he said.

"The most perverse thing is they are campaigning against new, job-creating investment."

Mr Robb said the guidelines of the free trade agreement were crystal clear.

"Employers must demonstrate that Australian workers have been given first opportunity for jobs through labour market testing.

"And only if there are no suitably qualified Australians will workers be permitted to come in under the 457 visa program."